Date: November 20, 2009

A parolee who started a large grass fire in Roseville when he drove his car through a field as he tried to elude police has been sentenced to three years and eight months in state prison.

Patrick John Henry, 40, of Lincoln was given the sentence last month by Placer County Superior Court Judge Robert P. McElhany after pleading guilty to felony counts of grand theft and evading peace officers.

He also admitted to a special allegation of having a prior felony conviction. Two misdemeanor charges -- recklessly causing a fire and resisting or obstructing a peace officer – were dismissed in a plea arrangement with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.

Henry was pursued by Roseville police on Sept. 30 after stealing a generator out of a car at a construction site on Secret Ravine Parkway.

Trying to evade capture, Henry drove his car through a dry, grassy field near Diamond Woods Circle, sparking a 60-acre fire and causing a power outage in the area.

Henry abandoned the vehicle but was caught by Roseville officers as he tried to run away.

He entered his guilty pleas during an arraignment proceeding at the PlacerCounty jail courtroom on Oct. 6 and was immediately sentenced.